Systems and methods for decoupled optical network link traversal

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are disclosed for optical network link traversal, including a method comprising the steps of receiving, by a traverser software module for an optical network, from a first node in a network link defining a path in the optical network, one or more node sets indicative of one or more of a second node also in the network link; determining, with the traverser software module, an order of traversal of the one or more node sets; traversing the network link using the determined order of traversal; communicating, by the traverser software module, information with a feature manager software module for a first software feature, the first software feature configured to perform a function specific to a specific node; and triggering, by the feature manager software module, the first software feature to execute one or more computer executable instruction based on information from the traverser software module.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses that controland implement link-level traffic engineering through opticalcommunication networks. More particularly the disclosure relates tomodular link-level traversal for optical networks separated from featurebusiness logic. Though the methodologies set forth herein are in thecontext of exemplary based traffic engineering (TE) routing for opticalcommunication networks, such methodologies may be applied to anyinterface/network that supports network linking.

BACKGROUND

Traffic Engineering (TE) is a technology that is concerned withperformance optimization of operational networks. In general, TrafficEngineering includes a set of applications mechanisms, tools, andscientific principles that allow for measuring, modeling, characterizingand control of data traffic in order to achieve specific performanceobjectives.

Generally, optical networks comprise a collection of interconnectedheterogeneous termination points. The characteristics ofinterconnections among different termination points may vary widely. Anetwork solution provider is often required to implement a number offeatures that operate on the network for retrieval, propagation,injection, and processing of information. However, the terminationpoints, their interconnections, and the features that need to operate onthe termination points may differ from one another. Because of thesedifferences, prior systems required the development and use offeature-specific and link-specific modules, which are difficult toreuse. Commonly, designers would design network link-level featuresfocusing on the details of the features and the nature of the link(between or inside network devices) on which it operates. However, thisresulted in development of software modules which have the businesslogic of the feature strongly coupled with the mechanism of retrieval,propagation, and injection of feature specific information in a linkspecific manner.

Extending the same feature over new sorts of network links, or even newtypes of termination points and interconnections in an existing networklink, necessitated modification and verification of the existingsoftware modules. In addition, as the software modules were changed toadd more and more network link specific code, readability andmaintainability of the feature business logic degraded. As aconsequence, a new feature could not reuse the software modules of anyof the existing features even if the features operated on the samenetwork.

What is needed are systems and methods that separate link-leveltraversal from feature-based implementation in order to create easilymaintainable and reusable systems for link-agnostic retrieval,propagation, and/or injection of information in heterogeneous networks,and that also allow swift implementation and simple fault (“bug”)isolation.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are disclosed. The problems of feature-specificimplementation, modification, and verification of software modules inoptical networks are addressed with systems and methodologies forfeature-agnostic decoupled optical network link traversal forlink-agnostic retrieval, propagation, and/or injection of information inheterogeneous networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more implementationsdescribed herein and, together with the description, explain theseimplementations. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of another exemplary embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an exemplary termination point of an exemplaryembodiment of one or more system in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an exemplary network device of the exemplarysystem of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of a portion of the exemplary system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary method in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary directed graph in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an exemplary method in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is another schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements.

The mechanisms proposed in this disclosure circumvent the problemsdescribed above. In one exemplary embodiment, a link traversal methodmay comprising the steps of: receiving, by a traverser software modulefor an optical network, from a first node in a network link defining apath in the optical network, one or more node sets indicative of one ormore of a second node also in the network link defining the path in theoptical network; determining, with the traverser software module, anorder of traversal of the one or more node sets in the network linkdefining the path in the optical network; traversing the network link,including the first node and the one or more second node, using thedetermined order of traversal; communicating, by the traverser softwaremodule, information with a feature manager software module for a firstsoftware feature, the first software feature configured to perform afunction specific to a specific node; and triggering, by the featuremanager software module, the first software feature to execute one ormore computer executable instruction based on information from thetraverser software module.

In some embodiments, the feature manager software module may be a firstfeature manager software module, and the method may further comprise thesteps of: registering, with the traverser software module, the firstfeature manager software module and a second feature manager softwaremodule for a second software feature, the second software featureconfigured to perform a function specific to a specific node, thefunction different than the function of the first software feature; andcommunicating, by the traverser software module, information with thesecond feature manager software module.

In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the step ofmaintaining, by the traverser software module, information regarding aset of nodes previously traversed such that a particular terminationpoint is only traversed once for a particular traversal.

In some embodiments, the feature manager software module may be a firstfeature manager software module, and the method may further comprise thesteps of: communicating, by the traverser software module with a secondfeature manager software module for a second software feature, thesecond software feature configured to perform a function specific to aspecific node, the function different from the function of the firstsoftware feature; and instigating, by the second feature managersoftware module, the second software feature to execute one or morecomputer executable instruction based on information from the traversersoftware module.

In some embodiments, the traverser software module may be executed by acontrol module in the first node and/or may be executed by a computerprocessor external to the first node.

In some embodiments, the feature manager software module may be executedby a control module in the first node and/or may be executed by acomputer processor external to the first node.

In one exemplary embodiment, a link traversal system may comprise afirst network hardware device, in a network link defining a path in anoptical network, comprising a control module and one or more firsttermination point, the control module configured to execute a traversersoftware module and a first feature manager software module for a firstsoftware feature, the first software feature configured to perform afunction specific to a specific termination point and/or a specificnetwork device, wherein the traverser software module is configured to:receive, from the first termination point of the first network hardwaredevice, one or more node sets indicative of one or more of a secondtermination point and a second network hardware device also in thenetwork link defining the path in the optical network; determine anorder of traversal of the first and the second termination points in thenetwork link defining the path in the optical network based at least inpart on the one or more node sets; traverse the network link, includingat least the first termination point and the one or more secondtermination point in the network link defining the path in the opticalnetwork, using the determined order of traversal; communicateinformation to the first feature manager software module; and whereinthe first feature manager software module is configured to trigger thefirst software feature module to execute one or more computer executableinstruction based on information communicated from the traversersoftware module.

In some embodiments, the traverser software module configured tocommunicate with the first feature manager software module may furthercomprise the traverser software module being configured to transmit oneor more messages from the traverser software module on the first networkhardware device to a second traverser software module on a secondnetwork hardware device. The traverser software module may be furtherconfigured to receive one or more messages from a second traversersoftware module on a second network hardware device. The traversersoftware module may be further configured to transmit the one or moremessages to the feature manager software module.

In some embodiments, the termination point may comprises one or morefeature manager software module, and the traverser software module maybe further configured to transmit one or more functions to the one ormore feature manager software module of the termination point.

In some exemplary embodiments, a link traversal system may comprise oneor more computer processor running a traverser software module and afirst feature manager software module that when executed cause the oneor more computer processor to: receive, with the traverser softwaremodule, from a first node in a network link defining a path in anoptical network, one or more node sets indicative of one or more of asecond node also in the network link defining the path in the opticalnetwork; determine, with the traverser software module, an order oftraversal of the first and the second nodes in the network link definingthe path in the optical network based at least in part on the one ormore node sets; traverse, with the traverser software module, thenetwork link using the determined order of traversal; communicate, withthe traverser software module, with the first feature manager softwaremodule; and trigger, with the first feature manager software module, thefirst software feature to execute one or more computer executableinstruction based on information from the traverser software module inthe first node and in the second node.

Definitions

If used throughout the description and the drawings, the following shortterms have the following meanings unless otherwise stated:

API stands for Application Programing Interface. An API enablesstandardized interfaces and/or communications between software systemsand/or components. In Object Oriented Programming, an API may be furtherdefined as a set of methods and properties that an object uses tointeract with other objects.

The term “node” represents an abstract interface in the system. Theimplementation of specific features may require network devices and/ortermination points to implement this interface.

TE stands for Traffic Engineering which is a technology that isconcerned with performance optimization of operational networks. Ingeneral, TE includes a set of applications mechanisms, tools, andscientific principles that allow for measuring, modeling, characterizingand control of data traffic in order to achieve specific performanceobjectives.

The terms “upstream” and “downstream” as used herein may be from theperspective of a particular intermediate node, such as a particulartermination point and/or network device. In such a case, other nodestowards the head end (and/or the active side of the network) from theparticular node may be considered “upstream” from the particular node.Likewise, other nodes towards the tail end (and/or the passive side ofthe network) from the particular node may be considered “downstream”from the particular node.

Description

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. Thisdescription should be read to include one or more and the singular alsoincludes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Further, use of the term “plurality” is meant to convey “more than one”unless expressly stated to the contrary.

Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least inpart, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

Also, certain portions of the implementations have been described as“components” or “circuitry” that perform one or more functions. The term“component” or “circuitry” may include hardware, such as a processor, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field programmablegate array (FPGA), or a combination of hardware and software. Softwareincludes one or more computer executable instructions that when executedby one or more component or circuitry cause the component or circuitryto perform a specified function. It should be understood that thealgorithms described herein are stored on one or more non-transientmemory. Exemplary non-transient memory includes random access memory,read only memory, flash memory or the like. Such non-transient memorycan be electrically based or optically based. Further, the transmissionsdescribed herein may be generated by the components and result invarious physical transformations.

Circuitry could be analog and/or digital, components, or one or moresuitably programmed microprocessors and associated hardware andsoftware, or hardwired logic. It should be understood that the networkdevices can be implemented in a variety of manners including those shownand discussed in U.S. Patent Application No. 20090245289 entitled“Programmable Time Division Multiplexed Switching”, the entire contentof which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Information can be stored in a distributed fashion (distributed storagehaving multiple memory/storage devices) and processed in a distributedmanner. Additionally and/or alternatively, the distributed storage maybe replaced by a centralized memory that stores the information for all,or a subset, of the network devices. In this situation, the networkdevices may include communication paths to obtain the connectioninformation from the centralized memory.

As discussed above, prior systems required feature-specificimplementation, modification and verification of the existing softwarefeature modules. In addition, as the software feature modules werechanged to add more and more network link specific code, readability andmaintainability of the software feature business logic degraded. As aconsequence, a new software feature could not reuse the software modulesof any of the existing software features even if the software featuresoperated on the same network, resulting in long lead-times forimplementation of software features and difficulty in de-buggingimplementations. The present disclosure addresses these and otherdeficiencies with systems and methodologies for feature-agnosticdecoupled optical network link traversal for link-agnostic retrieval,propagation, and/or injection of information in heterogeneous networks.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-5, anexemplary decoupled optical network link traversal system 10 (alsoreferred to herein as the link traversal system 10) will be described.Generally, the link traversal system 10 acts in conjunction with one ormore optical network 12. The optical network 12 may be used for thetransmission of optical signals transmitting consumer and/or systemdata. The optical network 12 may comprise two or more optical networkdevices 14 connected by one or more optical fibers 15. The opticalnetwork devices 14 may be optical network hardware devices or combinednetwork hardware and software devices. For exemplary purposes, theoptical network 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown having exemplary opticalnetwork devices 14 that include an Optical Amplifier (OA) opticalnetwork device 14 ₁, an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer optical networkdevice 14 ₂, a first and a second switch optical network devices 14 ₃and 14 ₄, and a first and a second hub optical network devices 14 ₅ and14 ₆; and having termination points 16 ₁ to 16 ₁₇. However, it will beunderstood that the optical network 12 may have other quantities ofand/or other types of optical network device 14 and termination points16 _(n).

Each optical network device 14 may have one or more termination point(“TP_(n)”) 16 _(n) acting as an input and/or an output to the opticalnetwork device 14, such that the optical network 12 may have terminationpoints 16 ₁, 16 ₂, . . . 16 _(n). As shown in FIG. 3, the terminationpoints 16 _(n) may comprise circuitry 18 capable of carrying outexecutable instructions and/or functions. The termination points 16 _(n)may comprise one or more software interface 20, through which thetermination points 16 _(n) may communicate, transfer signals indicativeof information, and/or be controlled.

A path in and/or through the optical network 12 between a first networkdevice 14 and a second network device 14 may be referred to as a networklink 17. The network link 17 may include one or more additional networkdevices 14 and/or termination points 16 _(n) between the first networkdevice 14 and the second network device 14, such as shown in theexamples of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The optical network device 14 may have one or more control module 24.The one or more control module 24 may be configured to execute one ormore software feature 26 for the optical network device 14. The controlmodule 24 may have one or more non-transitory memory 28 in which the oneor more software feature 26 may be stored. Additionally or alternately,one or more of the software features 26 may be stored externally fromthe optical network device 14, such as on external non-transitorymemory, but executed by the optical network device 14.

The one or more software features 26 control the functions of theoptical network device 14 and/or the termination point 16 _(n) inconjunction with the optical network 12. For example, software features26 may control one or more of defect propagation, alarms,identifications, notifications, and other functions used in theoperation of the optical network 12 and the optical network devices 14.Non-exclusive examples of software features 26 include Optical LineDefect Propagation, Inter-Object Alarm Correlation, OSC identificationpropagation for Traffic Engineered links, OTDR Spool Length Calculation,Software Controlled Optical Protection, and many more.

The link traversal system 10 may comprise one or more feature manager 30and one or more traverser 32. The feature manager 30 may be referred toas the feature manager software module. The traverser 32 may be referredto as the link traverser and/or the traverser software module. Thefeature manager(s) 30 and the traverser(s) may use the interface 20 ofthe termination points 16 _(n) to manipulate the termination points 16_(n). The feature manager(s) 30 and the traverser 32 that manages aparticular termination point 16 _(n) may be modeled in terms of aconcrete class that implements a generic interface in anobjected-oriented software framework.

The feature manager 30 may be comprised of software that is executableon circuitry, such as one or more processor 34, outside of the networkdevices 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, thefeature manager 30 may be comprised of software that is executable oncircuitry within one or more of the network devices 14, as shown inFIGS. 2, 4, and 5. In one embodiment, the feature manager 30 may beexecutable by the control module 24 in one or more of the networkdevices 14. The feature manager 30 may be stored in one or morenon-transitory memory, such as the non-transitory memory 28 and/orexternal non-transitory memory.

A particular feature manager 30 may be configured to interface with aparticular software feature 26 in one or more of the termination points16 _(n) and/or the network devices 14. For example, a first featuremanager 30 may be configured to interface with a first software feature26 in termination point (TP2) 16 ₂, the first software feature in the OAnetwork device 14 ₁, the first software feature in the OADM networkdevice 14 ₂, and with the first software feature 26 in termination point(TP3) 16 ₃, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally a second featuremanager 30 may be configured to interface with a second software feature26 in termination point (TP13) 16 ₁₃, with the second software feature26 in the second switch network device 14, and with the second softwarefeature 26 in the second hub network device 14, and so on.

One example of the interface between the feature manager 30 and thesoftware feature 26 is through inheritance in object orientedprogramming. Inheritance is a mechanism that bases an object or classupon another object, such that the new object or class has theproperties and behaviors of the original object. For example, thecontrol modules 24 and or one or more external processor 34 mayimplement a “FeatureManager” software interface. Concreteimplementations of the “FeatureManager” software interface may be usedto implement an abstract “ProcessNodeData” application programminginterface (API) to process data of an individual termination point 16_(n).

In one embodiment, the feature manager 30 may obtain and/or receiveinformation indicative of which software features 26 are associated withparticular network devices 14 and/or termination points 16 _(n).

The traverser(s) 32 may be comprised of software that is executable oncircuitry, such as one or more processor 36, outside of the networkdevices 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Multiple traversers 32 may be executedby circuitry, such as one or more processor 36, outside of the networkdevices 14.

Additionally or alternatively, the traverser(s) 32 may be comprised ofsoftware that is executable on circuitry within one or more of thenetwork devices 14, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. In one embodiment,the traverser(s) 32 may be executable by the control module 24 in one ormore of the network devices 14. The traverser(s) 32 may be stored in oneor more non-transitory memory, such as the non-transitory memory 28and/or external non-transitory memory. The traverser(s) 32 may furthercomprise one or more non-transitory memory 33.

The traverser 32 may be configured to interface with the feature manager30, such as through an application programming interface (API).

In embodiments in which the feature manager 30 and the traverser 32 maybe comprised of software that is executable on circuitry such as thecontrol module 24 within one or more of the network devices 14, eachnetwork device 14 _(n) in a set of network devices 14 _(n) may store thefeature manager(s) 30 _(n) and the traverser(s) 32 _(n), as illustratedin FIG. 5. In such a case, a first feature manager 30 ₁ executed in afirst network device 14 ₁ may communicate with a second feature manager30 ₁ executed in a second network device 14 ₂, such as through messages38. A first traverser 32 running in the first network device 14 ₁ maydetermine that the second network device 14 ₂ is the next to betraversed and may deliver the message(s) 38 from the first featuremanager 30 ₁ of the first network device 14 ₁ to a second traverser 32in the second network device 14 ₂. The second traverser 32 of the secondnetwork device 14 ₂ may then transmit the message(s) 38 to the secondfeature manager 30 ₁ of the second network device 14 ₂. The informationcommunicated in the messages may be specific to the particular softwarefeature 26. For example, for a software feature 26 with an “AlarmSuppression” function, the information could be a set of faults presentin an upstream termination point. However, the messages 38 are opaque tothe traverser 32 and do not affect the functionality of the traverser32.

When the traverser 32 _(n) visits network devices 14 _(n) or terminationpoints 16 _(n) (that is, nodes) that are not accessible from the samecircuitry or processor (such as not accessible by the control module 24)that executes the traverser 32 _(n), (that is, outside the boundary ofthe current processor or circuitry, such as other network devices 14_(n) or termination points 16 _(n) of other network devices), thetraversers 32 _(n) and the feature managers 30 _(n) may communicatethrough the message(s) 38 transmitted between the traversers 32 _(n) andthe feature managers 30 _(n).

When the traverser 32 _(n) visits network devices 14 _(n) or terminationpoints 16 _(n) (that is, nodes) that are accessible from the samecircuitry or processor (such as from the control module 24) thatexecutes the traverser 32 _(n), the traverser 32 _(n) may invoke an API(such as “ProcessNodeData”) of the registered feature managers 30 _(n)of those network devices 14 _(n) or termination points 16 _(n). Forexample, the feature managers 30 _(n) of a particular network elementand the termination points 16 _(n) belonging to the particular networkdevice 14 _(n) are accessible from the control module 24 of theparticular network device 14 _(n). In the example illustrated in FIG. 5,termination points (TP1) 16 ₁ and (TP2) 16 ₂ of the OA network device 14₁ are accessible from the control module 24 of the OA network device 14₁, while termination points (TP3) 16 ₃, (TP4) 16 ₄, and (TP5) 16 ₅ ofthe OADM network device 14 ₂ are not accessible from the control module24 of the OA network device 14 ₁.

In one embodiment, the link traversal system 10, 10 a further comprisesa “Node” software interface that may be implemented by the circuitry 18of the individual termination points 16 _(n) and/or the network devices14. Concrete implementation of the “Node” software interface may thenimplement abstract application programming interfaces (APIs)“GetDownStreamNodeSet” and “GetUpstreamNodeSet” to determine the sets ofupstream and/or downstream termination points 16 _(n) and/or networkdevices 14 (node sets) for the particular termination point 16 _(n), andprovide information indicative of the sets of upstream and/or downstreamtermination points 16 _(n) and/or network devices 14 (the node sets) forthe particular termination point 16 _(n) to the link traverser 32.

The traverser 32 may comprise a “LinkTraverser” abstract base class toencapsulate the network link traversal mechanism. For example, the“LinkTraverser” abstract base class may implement an algorithm“TraverseLink” to traverse a network link 17 between two or more nodes(such as termination points 16 _(n) and/or network device 14). Thetraverser 32 may also provide an application programming interface (API)“RegisterFeatureManager” to register the one or more feature manager 30.During link traversal, each registered feature manager 30 may have the“ProcessNodeData” API called back for each termination point 16 _(n)and/or network device 14 (node) traversed.

Concrete implementations of the “LinkTraverser” abstract base class maybe used to implement an abstract application programming interface(API), for example, “GetNextNodesInLink”, to extract the next set oftermination points 16 _(n) (nodes) from the current termination point 16_(n) (node) being processed. There may be concrete implementations of“LinkTraverser” abstract base class, such as “UpStreamLinkTraverser” and“DownStreamLinkTraverser” which may implement the “GetNextNodesInLink”API by calling the “GetUpstreamNodeSet” and “GetDownstreamNodeSet” APIsof the termination point 16 _(n) (node), respectively.

However, the concrete “LinkTraverser” abstract base class variants neednot be limited to upstream and downstream traversal only. The frameworkallows applications to define custom link traversal mechanisms byderiving from the “LinkTraverser” base class and overriding the“GetNextNodesInLink” API. In addition, applications can store certainmeta-information in the non-transitory memory 33 of the traverser 32 forspecific traversal requirements. For example, when multiple networklinks 17 share a segment of the optical network 12, the path identifiercan be stored in the meta-information to traverse a specific networklink 17 differentiated from the other network links 17 in the sharedsegment. The traverser 32 may pass this meta-information to thetermination points 16 _(n) while acquiring the next set of terminationpoints 16 _(n) to visit.

The “FeatureManager” software interfaces employing this framework maytypically use a strict weak ordering of the termination points 16 _(n)and/or network devices 14 (nodes) during link traversal. That is, if anode has already been visited during traversal, it should not be visitedagain. However, there may be exceptions to this norm and one or moreapplications may require revisiting nodes during traversal. However, itis useful to prevent an already visited node to be visited again unlessthe “FeatureManager” software interfaces require it. Thus, the frameworkmay use a strict weak ordering during link traversal as the initialdefault. To achieve this, the “LinkTraverser” abstract base class maymaintain information regarding the set of nodes that have already beenvisited. If a node is found to be present in the set of already visitednodes during traversal, it is not visited again. The software features26 may request the “LinkTraverser” abstract base class to disable strictweak ordering through the “SetStrictWeakOrdering” API provided by thelink traverser 32.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary decoupled optical network link traversalmethod 100 (also referred to as the link traversal method 100). The linktraversal method 100 may utilize a software object oriented framework toenforce decoupling of the network link traversal mechanism from thebusiness logic of the software features 26 that operate on the opticalnetwork 12 using the link traversal system 10. For purposes of thisdescription, the term “software object oriented framework” may beinterpreted to mean a software framework implemented in terms of objectsand their interactions. The particular object oriented frameworkdescribed herein may be used with one or more of the software features26 so as to create a link traversal mechanism for the optical network 12that can be utilized by one or more of the software features 26 forinformation retrieval, propagation, injection, and/or other functions,irrespective of the dissimilarities in the business logic of thesoftware features 26 or the kind of information of the optical network12 or of the nodes processed by the software feature 26. It will beunderstood that while the exemplary methods and systems are describedusing object oriented programming and framework, the methods and systemsmay be carried out using other types of programming and frameworks.

In step 102, the link traversal method 100 may determine a traversalordering of nodes of the optical network 12 using upstream and/ordownstream node sets. In step 104, the traverser 32 may register thefeature managers 30 associated with the nodes to be traversed for aparticular network link 17, based on the determined traversal ordering.In step 106, the link traversal method 100 may traverse the nodes (suchas the network devices 14 and termination points 16 _(n)) based on thedetermined traversal ordering. The feature manager(s) 30 may communicatewith the network devices 14 and the termination points 16 _(n) todetermine if the network devices 14 and the termination points 16 _(n)contain software features 26 that should be activated, based on thepurpose of the traversal. If the software features 26 should beactivated, the software features 26 carry out the software instructionsparticular to the individual software feature 26.

In one embodiment, the network link(s) 17 traversed by the traverser 32can be visualized as a directed graph 50 representative of the opticalnetwork 12. The constituent termination points 16 _(n) of the opticalnetwork 12 may be represented as the nodes of the directed graph 50,whereas the interconnections among the termination points 16 _(n) mayconnote the edges in the directed graph 50. For example, FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary directed graph 50 based on the exemplaryoptical network 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The link traversal method 100 may determine a weak traversal ordering ofthe termination points 16 _(n) and/or network devices 14 in the opticalnetwork 12, as represented by the nodes of the directed graph 50. Weaktraversal ordering, as used herein and as understood by persons havingordinary skill in the art, may be understood as the ranking of thetermination points 16 _(n) and/or network devices 14 for the movement ofdata through the optical network 12, in which tied rankings oftermination points 16 _(n) and/or network devices 14 may be allowed.

For example, in the exemplary optical network 12, an input signal intotermination point (TP3) 16 ₃ of the OADM network device 14 may bede-multiplexed into outputs to termination points (TP4) 16 ₄ and (TP5)16 ₅. In weak traversal ordering, a downstream traversal may beperformed of termination point (TP3) 16 ₃, termination point (TP4) 16 ₄,and termination point (TP5) 16 ₅ either in an order of TP3 to TP4 toTP5, or in an order of TP3 to TP5 to TP4. However, TP3 cannot betraversed after TP4 or TP5. Therefore, an order of TP4 to TP3 to TP5 isan incorrect ordering, as is an order of TP5 to TP3 to TP4. Inmathematical terms TP3>TP4 and TP3>TP5; but TP4 and TP5 are taken asequals and may be placed in any order in relation to one another. Incontrast, in a “strong” traversal ordering, elements cannot be equal. Assuch, for strong traversal ordering as applied in this example, theorder of TP3 to TP4 to TP5, and the order of TP3 to TP5 to TP4, cannotboth be valid orderings.

The weak traversal ordering of the termination points 16 _(n) may bedetermined by one or more factors, such as the type of terminationpoints 16 _(n), the interconnections between termination points 16 _(n),the direction of traversal, and so on. The link traversal method 100 maybe utilized further to specify the set of originating termination points16 _(n), terminating termination points 16 _(n), and, given atermination point 16 _(n), a set of termination points 16 _(n) totraverse next in a particular direction chosen through the opticalnetwork 12.

In the directed graph 50, the termination point 16 _(n) represented bythe nodes of the graph 50 may act as an ingress or egress point of aparticular stage of processing, such as processing carried out by one ormore of the software features 26 in the one or more optical networkdevice 14. In the directed graph 50, process edges 54 from ingresstermination points to egress termination points of the network devices14 may represent one or more processing function of one or more softwarefeature 26 and/or the control module 24 within the optical networkdevices 14. The order of the traversal of the network link 17 may beguided by what functions the one or more software feature 26 and/or thecontrol module 24 within the optical network devices 14 are configuredto execute. For example, in the example of traversing the ingresstermination point (TP6) 166 of the first optical switch network device14, the next node for a downstream traversal would be the egresstermination point (TP8) 168 of the first optical switch network device14 to which the input signal for the ingress termination point (TP6) 166is cross-connected.

Transfer edges 56 in the directed graph 50 are those that connect theegress termination points 16 _(n) of a first network device 14 to theingress termination points 16 _(n) of a second network device 14. Thetransfer edges 56 may represent handing over of opaque information offeature interest between network devices 14 and/or between softwarefeatures 26. Information of feature interest may include informationneeded by one or more of the software features 26 for the softwarefeature 26 to carry out the function of the software feature 26. The oneor more feature managers 30 may gather and/or store feature-specificinformation from one or more of the termination points 16 _(n) andinject the feature-specific information to one or more of thetermination points 16 _(n). However, the feature-specific informationgathered from and/or injected to the termination points 16 _(n) isopaque to the traverser 32.

The determined topology of the optical network 12, such as representedby the directed graph 50, may be used in determining the weak traversalordering of the termination points 16 _(n). The weak traversal orderingmay be determined based at least in part by determining the upstreamnode sets and/or downstream node sets for each termination point 16_(n).

Each termination point 16 _(n) in the optical network 12 (that is, thenodes in the directed graph 50) may be defined to have a set of zero ormore upstream termination points 16 _(n) (that is, an upstream node set,“S_(up)”) and a set of zero or more downstream termination points 16_(n) (that is, a downstream node set, “S_(down)”). What constitutes thesets of upstream and/or downstream termination points 16 _(n) of aparticular termination point 16 _(n) depends on the nature of thetermination point 16 _(n) and the heterogeneous nature ofinterconnections of the termination point 16 _(n). Interconnections ofthe termination points 16 _(n) are not limited to physical optical fiberlinks 15, but also may extend to internal links within the networkdevices 14, adding to the heterogeneity of the links to be traversed.The terms “upstream” and “downstream” as used herein may be from theperspective of a particular intermediate termination point 16 _(n). Insuch a case, other termination points 16 _(n) towards the head end(and/or the active side of the network) from the particular terminationpoint 16 _(n) may be considered “upstream” from the particulartermination point 16 _(n). Likewise, other the termination points 16_(n) towards the tail end (and/or the passive side of the network) fromthe particular termination point 16 _(n) may be considered “downstream”from the particular termination point 16 _(n).

The following example of the determination of the weak traversalordering using determination of upstream node sets and downstream nodesets are with respect to the exemplary optical network 12 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 and in the directed graph 50 of FIG. 7 for the exemplarynetwork link 17. In general, the egress termination points 16 _(n) ofthe previous processing stage form the upstream node set (Sup) of theingress termination points 16 _(n) of the next processing stage which,on the other hand, form the downstream node set (Sdown) of the previousegress termination point 16 _(n).

In the exemplary optical network 12 depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, theoptical input from the ingress termination point (TP1) 16 ₁ to theoptical amplifier (OA) network device 14 is amplified by the opticalamplifier (OA) network device 14, and transmitted through the egresstermination point (TP2) 16 ₂ of the OA network device 14 to the ingresstermination point (TP3) 16 ₃ of the OADM network device 14. In thisexample, the upstream node set (Sup) for the egress termination point(TP2) 16 ₂ of the OA network device 14 is made up of the ingresstermination point (TP1) 16 ₁ of the OA network device 14. The downstreamnode set (Sdown) for the ingress termination point (TP1) 16 ₁ of the OAnetwork device 14 is made up the egress termination point (TP2) 16 ₂ ofthe OA network device 14. As such, the downstream node set (Sdown) forthe termination point (TP1) 16 ₁ and the upstream node set (Sup) for thetermination point (TP2) 16 ₂ may be described as the following:S _(down)(TP1)={TP2}S _(up)(TP2)={TP1}

The downstream node set (Sdown) in relation to the termination point(TP2) 16 ₂ and upstream node set (Sup) in relation to the terminationpoint (TP3) 16 ₃ in the exemplary directed graph 50 may be described asthe following:S _(down)(TP2)={TP3}S _(up)(TP3)={TP2}

In this example, the Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) network device14 may de-multiplex optical input signals from the ingress terminationpoint (TP3) 16 ₃ and may transfer the de-multiplexed optical signalsthrough egress termination points (TP4) 16 ₄ and (TP5) 16 ₅ of the OADMnetwork device 14 to the ingress termination points (TP6) 166 and (TP7)167 of the switch network devices 14. Therefore, the upstream node setsand/or downstream node sets for the termination points (TP3) 16 ₃, (TP4)16 ₄, (TP5) 16 ₅, (TP6) 166, and (TP7) 167 may be described as thefollowing:S _(down)(TP3)={TP4,TP5}S _(up)(TP4)={TP3}S _(up)(TP5)={TP3}S _(down)(TP4)={TP6}S _(up)(TP6)={TP4}S _(down)(TP5)={TP7}S _(up)(TP7)={TP5}

In the exemplary optical network 12, a first Optical Switch networkdevice 14 may switch the input optical signal from its ingresstermination point (TP6) 16 ₆ to one of its egress termination points(TP8) 16 ₈ and may transfer the optical signal to the ingresstermination point (T12) 16 ₁₂ of a first hub network device 14. Theupstream node sets and/or downstream node sets for the terminationpoints (TP6) 16 ₆, (TP8) 16 ₈, and (TP12) 16 ₁₂ may be described as thefollowing:S _(down)(TP6)={TP8}S _(up)(TP8)={TP6}

S_(down)(TP 8) = {TP 12} S_(up)(TP 12) = {TP 8}

As determination of the upstream and downstream node sets are specificto a particular termination point 16 _(n), the responsibility ofpopulating the upstream and downstream node sets may be delegated to thetermination point 16 _(n) itself. The termination points 16 _(n) may bemodeled as specific classes in an object oriented software frameworkthat implement a generic interface. For example, the traverser may calla function from a generic API of the termination point 16 _(n), such as“GetUpstreamNodeSet” or “GetDownstremNodeSet”. The specific actualimplementation of the API may vary based on the type of the terminationpoint 16 _(n). For example, the implementation of “GetDownstremNodeSet”by an ingress termination point 16 _(n) of the OADM network device 14would return a set of all egress termination points (TP4) 16 ₄ and (TP5)16 ₅ of the OADM network device 14. On the other hand, the“GetDownstreamNodeSet” implemented by the ingress termination point 16 ₆of the optical switch network device 14 would return only the egresstermination point (TP8) 16 ₈ to which the ingress termination point 16 ₆is cross-connected. In the instances in which the traverser 32 isimplemented within the network device 14, the above logic may beexecuted by the control module 24.

The “Node” software interface may be implemented by the circuitry 18 ofthe individual termination points 16 _(n). Concrete implementation ofthe “Node” software interface may implement abstract applicationprogramming interfaces (APIs) “GetDownStreamNodeSet” and“GetUpstreamNodeSet” to determine the upstream and downstreamtermination points 16 _(n) (node sets) for the particular terminationpoint 16 _(n) and provide information indicative of the upstream anddownstream termination points 16 _(n) (that is, the node sets) for theparticular termination point 16 _(n) to the link traverser 32. The“ProcessNodeData” application programming interface (API) may processdata of an individual termination point 16 _(n).

In one embodiment, the “LinkTraverser” abstract base class may implementthe “TraverseLink” to traverse a network link 17 between two or moretermination points 16 _(n). As part of step 104 of the link traversalmethod 100, the “LinkTraverser” abstract base class may provide theapplication programming interface (API) “RegisterFeatureManager” toregister one or more FeatureManager. During link traversal, theregistered feature managers 30 may have the “ProcessNodeData” API calledback for each termination point 16 _(n) (node) traversed.

Concrete implementations of the “LinkTraverser” may be used to implementthe abstract application programming interface (API)“GetNextNodesInLink” to extract the next set of termination points 16_(n) from the current termination point 16 _(n) being processed. The“UpStreamLinkTraverser” and “DownStreamLinkTraverser” may be used toimplement the GetNextNodeslnLink API by calling the GetUpstreamNodeSetand GetDownstreamNodeSet APIs of the “Node” software interface,respectively.

One embodiment of the link traversal method 100 may utilize thefollowing exemplary Link Traversal Algorithm:

Method TraverseLink (LinkTraverser self, Node startNode)

Begin

-   -   Set<Node>nodesToTraverse:=ϕ    -   Set<Node>nodesAlreadyVisited:=ϕ    -   nodesToTraverse:=nodesToTraverse∪{startNode}    -   while (nodesToTraverse≠ϕ)    -   do        -   curNode:=nodesToTraverse.front        -   for each featureManagerϵself.Registered FeatureManagerSet        -   do            -   featureManager.ProcessNodeData(curNode)            -   if (self.GetStrictWeakOrdering( )=true)            -   then                -   nodesAlreadyVisited:=nodesAlreadyVisited∪{curNode}            -   endif        -   done        -   nodesToTraverse:=nodesToTraverse∪            -   (self.GetNextNodeslnLink(curNode)−nodesAlreadyVisited)        -   nodesToTraverse:=nodesToTraverse−{curNode}    -   done

End

It will be understood that while the exemplary methods 100 and systems10, 10 a are described using object oriented programming and framework,the method and system may be carried out using other types ofprogramming and frameworks.

FIG. 8 illustrates the exemplary link traversal system 10 in use inaccordance with the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a triggerevent 120 may occur that triggers the link traversal method 100 to beimplemented for a particular network link 17 to be traversed through theoptical network 12 by the traverser 32. Nonexclusive examples of thetrigger event 120 include a change in the optical network 12, a changein one or more of the network devices 14, a creation of an associationbetween network devices 14, a reboot, and a change in one or more of thesoftware features 26 (including code changes and/or an addition of oneor more new software features 26) of the network devices 14. It will beunderstood that other events in or external to the optical network 12may act as the trigger event 120. The nature of the trigger event 120may determine what type of traverser 32 is used (for example, upstream,downstream, and/or custom). The nature of the trigger event 120 maydetermine what feature managers 30 to register with the traverser 32.

Next, the one or more traversers 32 may register the one or more featuremanagers 30 to be traversed. To register the one or more featuremanagers 30, the one or more traversers 32 may create a list of, orotherwise organize information regarding, the specific feature managers30 to be traversed. The traverser 32 may store the information regardingthe registered feature managers 30.

The traverser 32 may traverse the network link 17 (that is, transitioninformation through the network device(s) 14 and/or the terminationpoint(s) 16 _(n) in the path of the network link 17) by extractingand/or receiving a set of next termination points 16 _(n) and/or networkdevices 14 (next nodes) from the current termination point 16 _(n)and/or network device 14 (current node). The traverser 32 may direct theregistered feature managers 30 to communicate with the network device(s)14 and/or termination point(s) 16 _(n) (depending on the specificrequirements of the software feature 26) being traversed.

The feature managers 30 may communicate with the network device(s) 14and/or termination point(s) 16 _(n) being traversed. The featuremanagers 30 may handle the functionality in the particular networkdevice 14 and/or termination point(s) 16 _(n), if the functionality ofthe software feature 26 is applicable to the purpose of the traversal asrelated to the trigger event 120. The feature manager 30 may execute aspecific task related to the software feature 26 (for example, OLDP orTE Link in FIG. 9) for a particular network device 14 and/or terminationpoint 16 _(n) (either of which may be referred to herein as a “node”)being visited. For example, the feature manager 30 may suppress analarm, update an OSC ID, and/or inject/collect TE link information.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example of the link traversal system 10, 10 aand the link traversal method 100 in use. The term “node” represents anabstract interface in the link traversal system 10, 10 a. Theimplementation of specific features may require network devices 14and/or termination points 16 _(n) to implement this interface Thetraverser 32 may be used to traverse the network link 17 in an upstreamdirection, in a downstream direction, and/or in a custom pattern (forexample, when particular software features 26 are not present in certainnetwork devices 14 and/or certain termination points 16 _(n)). For aparticular termination point 16 _(n) of a particular network device 14,the traverser 32 may register the feature manager 30 and process thetermination point 16 _(n) to extract the upstream node set and/ordownstream node set from the termination point 16 _(n). The traverser 32may instruct the feature manager 30 to execute the software features 26applicable to the trigger event 120 for the traversal of the networklink 17. For example, the network device 14 and/or the termination point16 _(n) may apply information from the traverser 32 to a particularsoftware feature 26 if the particular software feature 26 is presentand/or if the information is applicable to the particular softwarefeature 26. FIG. 9 further illustrates non-exclusive exemplary types oftermination points 16 _(n) for the optical network 12, such as a SuperChannel Group Physical Termination Point (SCGPTP) and an OpticalTransmission Section Physical Termination Point (OTSPTP).

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic of an object orientated class diagram ofthe example of the link traversal method 100 in FIG. 9, based on theexemplary optical network 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Particular non-exclusive examples of the link traversal system 10, 10 aand link traversal method 100 in use in accordance with the presentdisclosure will now be described.

In one example, the link traversal system 10, 10 a and link traversalmethod 100 may be used in building a Traffic Engineering (TE) linkinformation base for the optical network 12. Typically, a TrafficEngineering Link Manager is required to aggregate Traffic Engineeringlink information across the network link 17 in and/or through theoptical network 12. The Traffic Engineering Link Manager may implementthe link traversal method 100 to traverse the termination points 16 _(n)in the optical network 12 and build the information base by processingthe data in the termination points 16 _(n) (nodes) traversed.

In one example, the link traversal system 10, 10 a and link traversalmethod 100 may be used as part of optical line defect propagation in theoptical network 12. An Optical Line Defect Propagation (OLDP) softwarefeature is configured to detect conditions in the network link 17 inand/or through the optical network 12 and inject an alarm indication forthe next network device 14 in the optical network 12 based on thedetected conditions. Thus, each termination point 16 _(n) the networklink 17 may be associated with a particular OLDP manager and thetermination points 16 _(n) may send information about the detectedconditions to the particular OLDP manager. The OLDP manager mayimplement the link traversal method 100 to traverse the network link 17and associate the termination points 16 _(n) with the OLDP manager.

In one example, the link traversal system 10, 10 a and link traversalmethod 100 may be used as part of alarm correlation in the opticalnetwork 12. A single failure in an optical network 12 is often detectedas error conditions in multiple termination points 16 _(n). However, inorder to stop alarms from flooding the optical network 12, the networkdevices 14 are required to report only a single alarm for a singlefailure in the optical network 12. An alarm correlation builder mayimplement the link traversal method 100 to traverse the network link 17in the optical network 12 and suppress alarms in the downstreamtermination points 16 _(n) if an error condition is present in one ofthe upstream termination points 16 _(n).

In one example, the link traversal system 10, 10 a and link traversalmethod 100 may be used as part of software controlled optical protectionin the optical network 12. In some optical networks 12, a softwarecontrolled switch may be employed for protection of optical data. Insuch a system, the termination points 16 _(n) in each of the networkpaths being protected are associated with the software opticalprotection manager protecting the particular network path. This enablesthe termination points 16 _(n) to report error conditions detected tothe optical protection manager. The optical protection manager may usethis information to make traffic switching decisions. A particularoptical protection manager may implement the link traversal method 100to traverse the portion of the optical network 12 the particular opticalprotection manager protects, and associate the termination points 16_(n) in the portion of the optical network 12 with the particularoptical protection manager.

In one example, the link traversal system 10, 10 a and link traversalmethod 100 may be used as part of precise fiber cut diagnosis formulti-degree networks. An Optical Time Domain Reflector (OTDR) with aninternal switch may be deployed in a multi-degree network with differentdegrees involving different numbers and types of Field Replaceable Units(FRUs) having various internal spools of unalike fiber types. Based onthe degree chosen by the switch of the OTDM, internal spools and fibertype of FRUs may be aggregated utilizing the link traversal method 100for precise fiber cut diagnosis.

In one example, the link traversal system 10, 10 a and link traversalmethod 100 may be used across network element features. Certain featuresprovided by a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller or a NetworkManagement Suite (NMS) may operate on termination points 16 _(n) thatspan across different network elements. For example, an SDN Controllercan provide a centralized implementation of Automatically SwitchedOptical Network (ASON) that requires service setup, alternate routecalculation, and restoration. The SDN controller can utilize the linktraversal method 100 to traverse the termination points 16 _(n) in theoptical network 12 spanning across different network elements to providethose services.

In one example, implementing the link traversal method 100 in one ormore of the software features 26 within one or more of the networkdevices 14 to traverse termination points 16 _(n) within the networkdevices 14 or across the network devices 14 in a Network ManagementSuite (NMS) or a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller providesflexibility to implement features operating on termination points 16_(n) spanning across network devices 14.

In one example, implementing the link traversal method 100 enablesimproved code maintainability due to decoupling of link level featurebusiness logic and the link traversal mechanism. Further, the linktraversal method 100 enables improved code reusability through the useof a generalized framework for traversing links for all featuremanagers. Additionally, once the traversal mechanism is verified for aparticular software feature 26, the traversal mechanism will work forother software features 26, too, thereby improving error localization.Also, the link traversal method 100 enables easy extensibility offeatures across new types of termination points 16 _(n) andinterconnections, with reduced regression and a reduced risk of breakingexisting code while extending.

In one example, implementing the link traversal method 100 enablestraversing the network links 17 in upstream, downstream, or any customdirections through the optical network 12.

In one example, implementing the link traversal method 100 enablesregistering multiple feature managers 30 to traversers 32, thusresulting in the processing of multiple feature-specific data in asingle pass.

Conclusion

Conventionally, systems required feature-specific implementation,modification and verification of the existing software feature modules.In addition, as the software feature modules were changed to add moreand more network link specific code, readability and maintainability ofthe software feature business logic degraded. As a consequence, a newsoftware feature could not reuse the software modules of any of theexisting software features even if the software features operated on thesame network, resulting in long lead-times for implementation ofsoftware features and difficulty in de-bugging implementations. Thepresent disclosure addresses these and other deficiencies with systemsand methodologies for feature-agnostic decoupled optical network linktraversal for link-agnostic retrieval, propagation, and/or injection ofinformation in heterogeneous networks.

The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventive concepts to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of themethodologies set forth in the present disclosure.

Further, while implementations have been described in the context of anoptical network, this need not be the case. These implementations mayapply to an electronic network using copper cabling, or even a wirelessnetwork.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure. In fact, many of these features may becombined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosedin the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below maydirectly depend on only one other claim, the disclosure includes eachdependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitlydescribed as such outside of the preferred embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A link traversal method, comprising the steps of:receiving, by a traverser software module for an optical network, from afirst node in a network link defining a path in the optical network, oneor more node sets indicative of one or more of a second node also in thenetwork link defining the path in the optical network; determining, withthe traverser software module, an order of traversal of the one or morenode sets in the network link defining the path in the optical network;traversing the network link, including the first node and the one ormore second node, using the determined order of traversal;communicating, by the traverser software module, information with afeature manager software module for a first software feature, the firstsoftware feature configured to perform a function specific to a specificnode; and triggering, by the feature manager software module, the firstsoftware feature to execute one or more computer executable instructionbased on information from the traverser software module, wherein thefeature manager software module is a first feature manager softwaremodule, and further comprising the steps of: registering, with thetraverser software module, the first feature manager software module anda second feature manager software module for a second software feature,the second software feature configured to perform a function specific toa specific node, the function different than the function of the firstsoftware feature; and communicating, by the traverser software module,information with the second feature manager software module.
 2. The linktraversal method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:maintaining, by the traverser software module, information regarding aset of nodes previously traversed such that a particular terminationpoint is only traversed once for a particular traversal.
 3. A linktraversal method, comprising the steps of: receiving, by a traversersoftware module for an optical network, from a first node in a networklink defining a path in the optical network, one or more node setsindicative of one or more of a second node also in the network linkdefining the path in the optical network; determining, with thetraverser software module, an order of traversal of the one or more nodesets in the network link defining the path in the optical network;traversing the network link, including the first node and the one ormore second node, using the determined order of traversal;communicating, by the traverser software module, information with afeature manager software module for a first software feature, the firstsoftware feature configured to perform a function specific to a specificnode; and triggering, by the feature manager software module, the firstsoftware feature to execute one or more computer executable instructionbased on information from the traverser software module, wherein thefeature manager software module is a first feature manager softwaremodule, and further comprising the steps of: communicating, by thetraverser software module with a second feature manager software modulefor a second software feature, the second software feature configured toperform a function specific to a specific node, the function differentfrom the function of the first software feature; and instigating, by thesecond feature manager software module, the second software feature toexecute one or more computer executable instruction based on informationfrom the traverser software module.
 4. The link traversal method ofclaim 1, wherein the traverser software module is executed by a controlmodule in the first node.
 5. The link traversal method of claim 1,wherein the traverser software module is executed by a computerprocessor external to the first node.
 6. The link traversal method ofclaim 1, wherein the feature manager software module is executed by acontrol module in the first node.
 7. The link traversal method of claim1, wherein the feature manager software module is executed by a computerprocessor external to the first node.
 8. A link traversal system,comprising: a first network hardware device, in a network link defininga path in an optical network, comprising a control module and one ormore first termination point, the control module configured to execute atraverser software module and a first feature manager software modulefor a first software feature, the first software feature configured toperform a function specific to a specific termination point and/or aspecific network device, wherein the traverser software module isconfigured to: receive, from the first termination point of the firstnetwork hardware device, one or more node sets indicative of one or moreof a second termination point and a second network hardware device alsoin the network link defining the path in the optical network; determinean order of traversal of the first and the second termination points inthe network link defining the path in the optical network based at leastin part on the one or more node sets; traverse the network link,including at least the first termination point and the one or moresecond termination point in the network link defining the path in theoptical network, using the determined order of traversal; communicateinformation to the first feature manager software module; and whereinthe first feature manager software module is configured to trigger thefirst software feature module to execute one or more computer executableinstruction based on information communicated from the traversersoftware module, wherein the traverser software module being configuredto communicate with the first feature manager software module, furthercomprises the traverser software module being configured to transmit oneor more messages from the traverser software module on the first networkhardware device to a second traverser software module on a secondnetwork hardware device.
 9. The link traversal system of claim 8,wherein the traverser software module is further configured to receiveone or more messages from a second traverser software module on a secondnetwork hardware device.
 10. The link traversal system of claim 8,wherein the traverser software module is further configured to transmitthe one or more messages to the feature manager software module.
 11. Alink traversal system, comprising: a first network hardware device, in anetwork link defining a path in an optical network, comprising a controlmodule and one or more first termination point, the control moduleconfigured to execute a traverser software module and a first featuremanager software module for a first software feature, the first softwarefeature configured to perform a function specific to a specifictermination point and/or a specific network device, wherein thetraverser software module is configured to: receive, from the firsttermination point of the first network hardware device, one or more nodesets indicative of one or more of a second termination point and asecond network hardware device also in the network link defining thepath in the optical network; determine an order of traversal of thefirst and the second termination points in the network link defining thepath in the optical network based at least in part on the one or morenode sets; traverse the network link, including at least the firsttermination point and the one or more second termination point in thenetwork link defining the path in the optical network, using thedetermined order of traversal; communicate information to the firstfeature manager software module; and wherein the first feature managersoftware module is configured to trigger the first software featuremodule to execute one or more computer executable instruction based oninformation communicated from the traverser software module, wherein thetermination point comprises one or more feature manager software module,and wherein the traverser software module is further configured totransmit one or more functions to the one or more feature managersoftware module of the termination point.
 12. A link traversal system,comprising: one or more computer processor running a traverser softwaremodule and a first feature manager software module that when executedcause the one or more computer processor to: receive, with the traversersoftware module, from a first node in a network link defining a path inan optical network, one or more node sets indicative of one or more of asecond node also in the network link defining the path in the opticalnetwork; determine, with the traverser software module, an order oftraversal of the first and the second nodes in the network link definingthe path in the optical network based at least in part on the one ormore node sets; traverse, with the traverser software module, thenetwork link using the determined order of traversal; communicate, withthe traverser software module, with the first feature manager softwaremodule; and trigger, with the first feature manager software module, thefirst software feature to execute one or more computer executableinstruction based on information from the traverser software module inthe first node and in the second node, wherein the one or more computerprocessor is running a second feature manager software module andwherein when executed further cause the one or more computer processorto: register, with the traverser software module, the first featuremanager software module and a second feature manager software module fora second software feature, the second software feature configured toperform a function specific to a specific node, the function differentthan the function of the first software feature; and communicate, by thetraverser software module, information with the second feature managersoftware module.
 13. The link traversal system of claim 12, wherein thefirst node is a network hardware device.
 14. The link traversal systemof claim 12, wherein the first node is a termination point of a networkhardware device.
 15. The link traversal system of claim 12, wherein thesecond node is a network hardware device.
 16. The link traversal systemof claim 12, wherein the second node is a termination point of a networkhardware device.
 17. A link traversal system, comprising: one or morecomputer processor running a traverser software module and a firstfeature manager software module that when executed cause the one or morecomputer processor to: receive, with the traverser software module, froma first node in a network link defining a path in an optical network,one or more node sets indicative of one or more of a second node also inthe network link defining the path in the optical network; determine,with the traverser software module, an order of traversal of the firstand the second nodes in the network link defining the path in theoptical network based at least in part on the one or more node sets;traverse, with the traverser software module, the network link using thedetermined order of traversal; communicate, with the traverser softwaremodule, with the first feature manager software module; and trigger,with the first feature manager software module, the first softwarefeature to execute one or more computer executable instruction based oninformation from the traverser software module in the first node and inthe second node, wherein the one or more computer processor running thetraverser software module and the first feature manager software modulethat when executed further cause the one or more computer processor tomaintain, by the traverser software module, information regarding a setof nodes previously traversed such that a particular termination pointis only traversed once for a particular traversal.